Letter 112: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Divine matters must be placed before all other business: for with God almighty being propitious, we are confident that the republic is both to be preserved and to be improved. Since, therefore, certain doubts concerning the orthodox religion appear to have been stirred up in the regions of Scythia [the province of Scythia Minor, modern Dobruja], it has pleased our clemency in particular that a venerable synod be celebrated in the city of Heraclea in the province of Europa [Thrace], so that with minds in agreement and all truth having been examined, our true faith may become more plainly known to the entire world, so that henceforward there can be no doubt or discord. Therefore let your holiness, together with whatever most reverend bishops it pleases you — whom you shall have approved as fit and instructed regarding the orthodox religion from among the churches established under the care of your priesthood — deign to come to the aforesaid city of Heraclea by the day of the Kalends of July [July 1].

Aiiastasii iiiiperat^ris ad Uoriiiisdam papaiii. ^s^Dec H. Ipsuin ad concilium fleracleae propler quasdam de /ide f/uaestiones in Scythia motas celehrandwn invitat. Anastasius Augustus Hormisdae papae. Omiiibus negotiis diyinae res praeponendae sunt: Deo etenini omnipotente propitio rempublicam et eonservandam et meliorandam esse confidimus. Quia igitur dubitationes quaedam de oiiliodoxa religione in Scythiae partibus videntur esse commotae, id specia- liter clementiae nostrae placuit, ut venerabilis synodus in Heracleo- tana civitate provinciae Europae celebretur^): quatenus concordanti- bus animis et omni veritate discussa vera fides nostra orbi terrarum omiii manifestius innotescat, ut deinceps nulla possit esse dubitatio vel discorJia. Quapropter sauctitas tua cum quibus sibi placuerit 2Conf. Aviti ep. ad Honn. (1. c. ep. 21), ad Joh. Constantinopol. (od. Sir- ,11, 41). 1 ') Pacifl initae cum Vitaliano, qiii in gratiam cathoUcorum rebeUaverat, una haec erat conditio secimdum Cedrenum ad an. 23, Anastasium scUicet im- peratorem conciUum Heracleac acturum. a. 514. reverentissimis*) episcopis, quos de ecclesiis sub sui sacerdotii cura coustitutis idoueos et instructos erga orthodoxam religionem esse probaverity ad praefatam Heracleotanam civitatem intra diemCalen- darum Juliarum venire dignetur. Data V Cal. Januarii Constanti- nopoli, Senatorc v. c. consule. Accepta pridie Idus Majas, Flo- rentio v. c. consule.